University of Wisconsin President Ray Cross on Tuesday asked the Legislature's budget-writing committee to approve a new public authority for the UW System, a "dedicated and stable funding stream" and to reduce the governor's proposed $300 million budget cut over the next two years.

Shortly after he finished his testimony, a handful of protesters burst into the room shouting, "No cuts, no deals." Followed by four Capitol police officers, the protesters marched past the table where Cross was sitting to give testimony before the Joint Committee on Finance.

If Park Bank is liable for not spotting Sujata "Sue" Sachdeva's $34 million embezzlement from Koss Corp. and has to reimburse the company, Koss Chief Executive Michael Koss should also be ordered to personally pay the public company he runs, the bank argues in a new lawsuit.

Grant Thornton, Koss Corp.'s former auditor, should also have to pay a portion of any award that may be ordered, Park Bank argued in the latest twist in a long-running court fight stemming from Sachdeva's massive embezzlement.

"Park Bank denies any and all liability to Koss in this case," the bank said in its action. "Nevertheless, should Park Bank be found liable to Koss (Corp.) and required to pay damages to Koss, in this case, those damages will have been the result of a common liability of Park Bank, Michael Koss and Grant Thornton, thereby entitling Park Bank to (a) contribution from Michael Koss and Grant Thornton."(7)

Japanese reporters bring international perspective to spring training

Top: Japanese reporter Yuka Kobayashi (left) and her colleagues wait outside the clubhouse for Brewers outfielder Norichika Aoki to go through his first workout. Below: Aoki takes a break from running drills. (Photos by Tyler Emerick)

Phoenix- Brewers camp was electric Thursday as Norichika Aoki reported for his first day in a Milwaukee uniform. But even more abuzz were the reporters covering his arrival.

As usual, journalists showed up to camp bright and early. But today, there was a different crowd with a different energy. A group of 15 to 20 Japanese reporters mingled outside the clubhouse doors with cameras and notebooks, anxiously awaiting Aoki's arrival.

The moment Aoki walked toward the clubhouse, the reporters froze and fell silent. A few quietly wished him well in his native tongue. They each bowed in his direction.

They waited patiently near his locker as Aoki was fitted for his uniform and met his new teammates. Only when he was done did they respectfully approach him, bow again and hand him a business card to introduce themselves.

"We need to make a good relationship with the player," Shikama said. "It's not easy. It takes a long time, you don't do it in a hurry."

Fuji TV reporter Yuka Kobayashi said when reporting on baseball, Japanese reporters in the U.S. face some unique challenges.

"It's difficult because we only focus on one player," Kobayashi said. "For other local media they are covering the whole team."

With 14 active Japanese players in Major League Baseball, including nine in Arizona, Japanese reporters are stretched thin to focus on individual players.

"Because there is limited media and all the players are in totally different locations we have to drive or fly to most places," Kobayashi said.

But the reporters said Japanese fans want all the coverage they can get, even if it's not about baseball.

"They want us to cover more details from each person like what they eat, what they do in the offseason or outside of the stadium," Kobayashi said. "It's more about their personality, how they think about their game or how they prepare for the game."

Kyodo News reporter Ryusuke Shiraishi enjoys showing Japanese readers the differences between big league baseball in Japan and here.

"United States baseball is really various," he said. "(Players from) other countries participate in United States Major League Baseball so the culture is the big difference.

"And players in the United States are very powerful and very speedy."

Covering baseball in the United States is not only a struglle professionally but also personally.

"Just traveling, traveling is the toughest part," Shikama siad. "Sometimes I go from Seattle to New York to Tampa so I miss my family every day."

Some of the reporters, like Ryusuke Shiraishi, have been away from home for as long as four years.

"The hardest part is that I must leave my family for work," he said. "I'm usually working for business all over the United States and my family misses me.''

Kobayashi said the extensive traveling weighs heavily on them all.

"Pretty much the whole season we stay in a hotel so we don't get to go home," she said. " I have a place but I usually go there maybe three days or four days each month and that's it."

But Kobayashi said traveling isn't all bad.

"Most of our reporters have really high status in mileage programs for airlines."

And no matter what the challenges, the reporters are doing what they love.

"When I was a kid I wanted to be a baseball player but I couldn't," Shikama said. "At the same time I love writing so that's the good part, watching baseball and writing an article, that's the best.

"It's really fun, not only for me but for Japanese baseball fans.''

Kobayashi said is boosting the spirits of Japanese fans.

"Our job is to tell Japanese people what the Japanese are doing outside of their country," she said. "Whenever they have a good game, that can cheer up some people in Japan so that is the most exciting part."